Defense Systems
DARPA and Congress battle over spending, project priorities
The Senate Armed Service Committee is threatening to cut the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's budget by as much as $150 million as the struggle continues between the agency and Congress.
Defense Systems
Navy wants Boeing to study carrier-launched drones
Boeing has received a contract to make sure a drone designed for surveillance and strikes flies by 2018.
Defense Systems
Army explores idea of joint VTOL drone
The Army has provided an addendum to a Navy analysis of alternatives to determine whether the two services can meet their needs for vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned aircraft through a joint program.
Defense Systems
Somali terrorists beware: Raven drones overhead
Under a proposed $45 million U.S. counterterrorism assistance package, the African Union peacekeeping forces of Uganda and Burundi would get four unarmed Raven drones for use in Somalia.
Defense Systems
Persistent threats challenge US military cyber ops
The United States is becoming more experienced at handling cyber operations for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Defense Systems
Defense cuts won’t cause pain in short term
Despite the buzz about the painful military spending cuts that will occur over the next decade, Defense Department and industry officials expect only marginal spending reductions over the next two to three years.
Defense Systems
France, Britain put joint drone on hold
France and Britain will delay for 12 to 18 months a decision on how they will proceed together in developing a medium-altitude, long-range joint drone that can carry out strikes so that they can evaluate various options.
Defense Systems
Obama issues cyber warfare rules of engagement
President Barack Obama has signed executive orders that set forth the parameters by which the U.S. military can engage its adversaries and engage in routine espionage in the cyber realm.
Defense Systems
Navy Fire Scout crashes during Libya operations
A U.S. unmanned helicopter crashed June 21 while undertaking a reconnaissance mission as part of NATO's continuing air campaign against Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi.
Defense Systems
Marines advance cautiously toward smart phones
For now, the U.S. Marine Corps is just testing the smart-phone waters, but it could be the next branch of the military to dive into the mobile devices.
Defense Systems
From Paris, reassuring words for the industrial base
The Defense Department is keenly interested in maintaining the defense industrial base in the face of steep budget cuts.
Defense Systems
Networking: billets, appointments and promotions
The Pentagon announced a number of key promotions and reassignments in May and June.
Defense Systems
Is that insect real, or is it a drone?
Air Force researchers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are working to develop small and miniature unmanned drones that replicate the flight mechanics of moths, hawks and other inhabitants of the natural world.
Defense Systems
Air Force, Raytheon put tactical sensor on fast track
The Air Force has awarded Raytheon a contract to deploy a new tactical sensor system that will identify targets based on their spectral characteristics.
Defense Systems
Global Hawks remain on Carter's chopping block
Pentagon acquisition czar Ashton Carter has announced plans to streamline the Air Force RQ-4A/B Global Hawk program, including eliminating 11 more of the Block 30 Global Hawks from the scheduled purchase of 42 of the drones.
Defense Systems
Navy lab seeks wide-area surveillance system
The Office of Naval Research is seeking an autonomous persistent tactical surveillance system that will be able to link intelligence data collected from reconnaissance and surveillance systems into the command-and-control systems used by small tactical units communicating with their headquarters.
Defense Systems
Maritime Predator will be on display at Paris Air Show
In response to a request from the Defense Department's European Command, the Customs and Border Protection agency will display an operational maritime variant of the MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system at the 2011 Paris Air Show.
Defense Systems
CIA, JSOC join forces in Yemen drone war
Yemen is the latest nation to have U.S. drones scouring it for al-Qaeda members as the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command team to hunt down terrorists.
Defense Systems
Gates tries to spur NATO allies to greater action
Defense Secretary Robert Gates blasted NATO nations during a speech in Brussels June 10 for their reluctance to invest more heavily politically and militarily in the alliance.
Defense Systems